BY PRISCILLA MEDINA

Girls Varsity Softball began this season not only with returners from last years Varsity team and players that moved up from JV, but as well as a new head coach.

Head Coach Randy Noriega, coached practically all of his adult life. Sports was his life; he grew up playing baseball, football, and basketball. Becoming an athlete really helped him stay in school. As he got older, he understood his education was as important as being an athlete. He began as a recreational leader in the city of Azusa. Since he was 19, he spent his entire working career there as a youth leader, community center director, recreation supervisor, superintendent, and administrator.

“Coaching is almost second nature to me. I was a gifted youth athlete, was my gift that made me feel good as a person…it helped me to be responsible and dedication toward any activity or event I was in,” said Noriega.

He’s been coaching kids and teenagers for 40 years, including his own children. He has coached them since they were 5 years old up to them being in high school. When his children began playing sports, his daughters played softball, soccer, and volleyball. His son, was the middle child and played baseball. The game of baseball was too slow for him; nowadays, it’s longer and more deliberate. He realized with his girls playing, a softball game was faster and had more strategy from an offensive stand point.

Noriega was just coaching as his recreation job. He didn’t start coaching at the high school level until he retired. This is his third year coaching a high school team. He has also coached JV Softball at Glendora High School for one season, Gladstone High School for five years for Varsity Softball, and also Freshmen Basketball for one season.

Outside of coaching, he plays golf, does yard work, watches ESPN, works on home projects, and anything he can to keep himself busy. Right now, he has one child in college who plays volleyball and they follow her around to go see her games during season.

Compared to his past teams from Gladstone, they didn’t have much travel ball experience. He has high aspirations for West Covina’s Varsity team. This was his first team with players who are capable with excellence.

“These young ladies here have all the potential in the world. It’s just a matter of whether or not their desire or their heart will put them to where I think they’ll be. As long as they play hard and put forth the best effort, I’ll take whatever the score is. If we play hard and give it our best effort, win or lose, that’s all that matters,” said Noriega.